Northwood University: Richard DeVos Graduate School of Management

Northwood University: Richard DeVos Graduate School of Management

Northwood University dedicated the Richard DeVos Graduate School of Management building in May 2016. The newly constructed, 26,800-square-foot facility on the university’s Midland, MI, campus offers state-of-the-art learning and administrative spaces for graduate-level programs. Construction took approximately one year to complete. The building is named for Richard and Helen DeVos, noted entrepreneurs, civic leaders and philanthropists.

The facility was designed to model a modern workplace and maximize the problem-based learning methodology that is hallmark to all of Northwood University’s programming. Large, flexible classrooms with fully integrated technology, adjacent breakout rooms, laboratories and lounges provide learners with a variety of spaces conducive to independent, group and classroom study. The building also has space for more than 20 offices for the graduate school’s faculty, administrative staff and admissions department.

Classroom spaces feature desks and chairs on wheels, as well as movable walls, to accommodate large and small group dialogue. Smaller breakout rooms allow for students to study, work on group projects and presentations or debate a solution to a case study they have been assigned. Whiteboards adorn every wall to capture brainstorming ideas and technology in the building is cutting edge, as are the computer lab and student lounge.

According to designers at TowerPinkster Architects|Engineers of Grand Rapids, the building’s architecture provides an “expressive beacon” at the campus’s northwest corner, “embodying the university’s spirit of leadership and opportunity.” The building’s elements of glass, stone and masonry reflect interior spatial organization. It features a two-story lobby and a central, contemporary stair layout that’s articulated with reclaimed wood cladding and glass handrails. The facility is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, utilizing the latest technologies in energy-efficient and cost-effective materials and systems.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • University of Connecticut Upgrades Basketball Facility’s AV Systems

    The University of Connecticut recently partnered with Metinteractive to upgrade the AV systems of the Gampel Pavilion basketball facility on its campus in Mansfield, Conn., according to a news release.

  • Texas A&M Adds ALPR Technology to Parking Solutions

    Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, recently integrated automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology into its parking services and enforcement strategies, according to a news release. The university’s Transportation Services division deployed Genetec AutoVu ALPR to manage the campus’ 36,000+ parking spaces.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2025 New Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning is now accepting entries for the 2025 New Product Awards! The program’s goal is to honor the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products and services are particularly noteworthy in helping to improve K–12 and Higher Education learning environments.

  • Illinois Elementary School Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion

    Heather Hill Elementary School, part of Flossmoor School District 161 in Palatine, Ill., recently broke ground on a new addition to the school focused on student support and security, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers for the expansion as part of a longer-term facility planning and modernization initiative.

Digital Edition